The document discusses social media trends revealed by the Wave studies conducted by UM over 7 years. It finds that inherent human needs drive social behavior, including relationship building, diversion, progression, recognition, and learning. Meeting these needs through social media can benefit brands by building desirability and driving sales. However, simply tracking trends is not enough; brands must understand the motivations behind trends to know when and how consumers are engaging with them. The rapid growth of smartphones is transforming the digital landscape by becoming the dominant internet-connected device.